Fairhaven Primary School has been shortlisted for a national award for its involvement in a project that helps children with their mental health.

The Alex Timpson ARC Attachment Award recognises and celebrates best practice in attachment and trauma aware schools and settings.

The school is one of six primaries across the country to be shortlisted and is being noticed for its involvement in the Dudley Nurture and Resilience Project, which is designed to help pupils who could be at risk of trauma and attachment difficulties. As part of the project, which started in 2018 and runs until next year, the school renovated the former caretaker building to create a nurture facility.

Members of staff received specialist training in how to support pupils who may be facing adversities and the school has put in place new policies with a focus on nurture and support for pupils. 

Children have been offered consultations with educational psychologists where needed and parents and carers will have the opportunity to attend sessions to gain increased knowledge on key areas such a child led play, communication and behaviour coaching.

Since putting the project into operation pupils on the project recorded improved attendance at school have made accelerated progress in reading and maths. It has also resulted in school not issuing any fixed termed exclusions for a whole academic year. Tom Garner, Headteacher at Fairhaven Primary School, said:

"We have seen some incredible results as a result of our nature facility and programme and I am very proud of what our school community has achieved in helping to shield and support some of our most vulnerable children.

"Throughout the project we have shared our practice by welcoming visitors to our nurture facility and we will continue to work with partners and organisations such as Dudley Council to help other school benefit from what we have learned."

Councillor Ruth Buttery, cabinet member for children and young people at Dudley Council, added: "Dudley Council is committed to working with schools, organisations and partners to help our children and young people feel safe and secure in school and we are delighted to see a Dudley borough school lighting the way for others.

"Fairhaven has achieved an incredible amount over the last two years with this incredible programme and I wish to personally congratulate them on their outstanding work and dedication to emotional wellbeing of their pupils."

People can find out more about the awards at the-arc.org.uk. The winners of each category will be announced at Attachment Research Community's Virtual Annual Conference on 24 November 2020.